After a brief absence due to the international break, the loan round up is back, wrapping up all the news and form of United’s loanees around Europe.
With Tom Cleverley absent for Aston Villa due to their trip to Old Trafford, all eyes were on the Championship and League One, with a bumper set of fixtures over the Easter weekend.
After throwing away what once seemed to be a certain promotion place, Derby County and Jesse Lingard got their ambitions back on track for Premier League promotion. After a 2-2 draw with promotion rivals Watford on Friday night, they then got their first win in seven games, with a 2-0 win against relegation threatened Wigan, as they attempt a late surge into the play-offs. At the other end of the table, Reece James helped boost Huddersfield Town’s survival chances, with a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday, and a vital 2-1 win at high flying Ipswich Town. Aside from the thrills of relegation and promotion, Bolton Wanderers solidified their Championship status. Ben Amos was between the sticks as they drew with Blackpool 1-1, before Saidy Janko helped his side to a 3-0 victory over Cardiff. With Adam Bogdan now fit again, it will be a test for Ben Amos to try and hold onto the first choice goalkeeper shirt.
Into League One, and Sam Johnstone continues to star for Preston North End, who now sit comfortably in 2nd place. Back to back clean sheets in wins against Rochdale and Bradford have earned the young keeper deserved praise, and should be expected to feature on United’s preseason tour. Whilst Preston look forward to promotion, Ben Pearson’s Barnsley saw his sides chances all but disappear, thanks to back to back defeats over the bank holiday period. Consecutive losses to Colchester and Sheffield United leaves them six points adrift of a play-off place.
Into Europe, and our Real Madrid duo both recorded victories this weekend. After four successive defeats, Guillermo Varela and the Real Madrid Castilla side recorded back to back victories, as they move back up Segunda B. Similarly, Javier Hernandez played the final half hour as Real Madrid thumped Granada 9-1, with Cristiano Ronaldo bagging five goals. The Mexican also scored in his national sides 1-0 victory over Ecuador, as speculation continues to grow about a possible move to the MLS in the summer.
Into Portugal, and after sitting out their shock defeat to Cape Verde in the international break, Nani again saw Sporting Lisbon stutter to a 1-1 draw against Pacos De Ferreira at the weekend. Similarly, Angelo Henriquez and Dinamo Zagreb could only manage a 2-2 draw with second placed side, yet are comfortably on course to win the Croatian League.
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